BIOMASS OF COMMON REED AS A SOURCE OF FIBERS AND
GREEN CHEMICALS
Maja FRELIH 1), Janja ZULE1), Lorna FLAJŠMAN1), Ema FABJAN1) , Blaž LIKOZAR2) ,
Brigita HOČEVAR2) 1)Inštitut za celulozo in papir, Bogišićeva 8, 1000 Ljubljana
2)Kemijski inštitut, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana
45th International Annual Symposium DITP, Bled 14.11.2018
Content
facts about LC biomass
common reed (Phragmites australis)
purpose of current research
characterization of reed biomass
results
conclusion
LC biomass – alternative to fossil resources renewable, biodegradable, recyclable
different classes of LC biomass
• forest and wood processing residues • invasive and fast growing plants, grasses • agricultural residues • green cuttings • industrial residues important basic components in LC biomass
• cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives, ash
common reed is readily available LC biomass no cultivation and fertilization needed
traditional uses: construction (panels, isolation, roofs,…)
animal food and litter, biofuel, water treatment plants,
papermaking (3,3 – 3,5 tonnes of reed - 1 tonne of pulp for
papermaking)
new possibilities: fibers, nanocellulose, bioplastics,
advanced materials, “green” chemicals
common reed – feedstock for biorefineries
Worldwide utilization of Common reed
Common reed (Phragmites australis)
Large (2-4 m high) perennial fast growing
grass found in wetlands throughout temperate
and tropical regions of the world.
Forms extensive stands ( reed beds), which
may be as much as 1 square kilometer or more
in extent. Where conditions are suitable it can
also spread at 5 metres per year.
Common reed with its high ability to spread is
overgrowing large areas in different parts of
Slovenia (Ljubljana Marshes, Lakes Cerknica
and Slivnica, some locations near Prekmurje -
Lendava).
Common reed (Phragmites australis) at the location of Lake Cerknica
native plant
important for local preservation of endangered bird birds and insects
area of the lake 20km2 – 30 km2 (2000 - 3000ha )
300 ha / common reed
(3000 – 5000 t/ biomass)
mostly used for animal breeding – less interest in last years
looking for new potential uses fast spreeding has negative impact on biodiversity
harvesting needed
waste biomass – alternative use ???
Aim of the research
chemical characterization of reed from different locations in Slovenia (lake Cerknica – samples from late summer 2016, 2017 and 2018 and lake Slivnica samples from winter 2016)
laboratory delignification
morphological and mechanical characterization of isolated fibers
determination of its technological (papermaking) potential
Chemical characterization
drying (18 – 20°C)
fragmentation (1 cm)
grinding (0,5 mm)
Parameter Method
ash (525 °C) TAPPI T211
extractives (H, E) TAPPI T204
cellulose Kürschner-Hoffer
hemicellulose TAPPI T149-75
lignin TAPPI T222
Laboratory delignification
temperature 160 °C
time 90 minutes
reagent 18 % NaOH
liquid/sample 5 : 1
fiber dimensions ISO 16065
breaking length SIST EN ISO 1924-2
tearing index SIST EN ISO 1974
bursting index SIST EN ISO 2758
tensile index SIST EN ISO 1924-2
Chemical composition
sample ash %
extractives %
cellulose %
hemi-cellulose %
lignin %
REED 3,9 - 5,6 2,3 – 9,2 29 - 41 32 - 33 19 - 23
WOOD < 0,5 3 - 4 40 - 45 25 - 35 20 - 30
~ 30 % cell. Lake Cerknica
~ 40 % cell. Lake Slivnica
Extractives and hemicellulose
GC-MS analysis of H and E extracts
(fatty acids and alcohols, hydorcarbons, sterols, sugar monomers, furfural,…)
HPLC analysis of acid hydrolysate
(glucose from cellulose; xylose and arabinose from hemicellulose)
GC-MS analysis of Hexane extracts
Winter 2016
Late summer 2017
Late sumer 2018
*GC-MS analysis were done on Shimadzu SPL-2010Plus GC-MS chromatograph
Diffrences in raw biomass FTIR spectra * *All spectra were recorded on Perkin Elmer Spectrum Two FTIR spectrometer using ATR technique
Fiber properties - morphological
sample length mm
width μm
CWT* μm
REED 0,68 15,4 3,3
softwood 3 - 6 25 - 45 2 - 5
hardwood 0,5 – 1,8 10 - 36 3 - 6
Average fiber dimensions
*CWT – cell wall thickness
Microscopy
* Fiber analysis were done on Valmet Fiber Image Analyzer model Valmet FS5
Fiber properties – mechanical
parameter/delig. method NaOH
Kraft NaOH, Na2S
Organosolv EtOH, H2SO4
refining / PFI – 2000 rpm PFI – 600 rpm
grammage, g/m2 65,5 66,6 65,2
thickness, μm 98,6 133 135
breaking length,m 5658 3897 3527
tensile index, kN/m 55,5 38,2 34,6
tearing iindex, mNm2/g 3,45 2,87 2,82
bursting index, KPam2/g 3,62 1,99 1,46
Mechanical properties of non refined fibers are better compared to refined. Shortening of the fibers does not improve mechanical properties.
Evaluation of technological potential of reed
delignification yield is ~ 30 %, ISO brightness 35
fibers similar to hardwood fibers (short, good mechanical properties)
simple pretreatment, easy delignification, low energy refining, good bleachability
black liquor – expected lignin and aromatic degradation products, carbohydrates, furfural, organic acids, extractives – challenge for future researches
Conclusion
common reed - suitable, alternative raw material for the production of papermaking fibers.
optimization of biomass processing necessary (time of harvesting, pretreatment proceses, delignification, paper production)
possibilities for treatment of the black liquor for introduction of zero waste technology and development of new materials and “green” chemicals
biorefinery concept for efficient use of reed biomass to be adopted (fibers, extractives, black liquor, energy…)
further intensive research still needed
Acknowledgements
The work was partly carried out within the RDI project Cel.Cycle: »Potential of biomass for development of advanced materials and bio-based products« (contract number: OP20.00365), co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and European Union under the European Regional Development Fund, 2016–2020.